SCIENCE NEWS - The first known amphibious insects!!

Terrestrial moths evolved new lifestyle in the islands - They don’t surf, but caterpillars found only in Hawaii are the first insects known to feed and grow as readily in water as on land.

Evolutionary biologist Daniel Rubinoff of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and his colleagues have described amphibious habits of larvae in 12 new species in the moth genus Hyposmocoma (Adult insect is shown in the picture above - note the unique hair on hind wing).
Young of each species can thrive both underwater in rushing streams and exposed to air on rocks poking out of the water. Hyposmocoma moths live only in the Hawaiian islands, and most species in the genus spend their caterpillarhood exclusively on land before flitting away as full-grown moths. Yet genetic analyses show that within the genus, landlubber lineages have independently evolved amphibious caterpillars. A wood boring caterpillar of this genus is shown below.
In lab studies, the researchers found that these caterpillars don’t have gills or a natural scuba mechanism of trapping air bubbles. Instead, they appear to get oxygen directly from water. To survive submerged, the caterpillars need fast-flowing waters where they shelter on the downstream sides of rocks and spin tethers to keep from washing away. Caterpillars in this genus crawl around partly covered by silk-spun cases of a variety of shapes and sizes that they add to as they grow. Species in the newly described amphibious lineages, still awaiting formal scientific names, make cases called cones, bugles and burritos. Researchers have also found cases in the shapes of cigars, candy wrappers, oyster shells, dog bones and bowties. “We’re running out of names to describe them,” Rubinoff says.

Besides introducing some remarkable caterpillars, the work emphasizes the importance of islands in the study of evolution. Isolated mixes of the relatively few kinds of creatures that arrive on islands can come up with novelties unknown elsewhere. “Islands are clearly these crucibles of evolution,” Rubinoff says.

To read the whole story, please CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE.